Lifeguard Services

Responsibilities

Water rescue of swimmers, divers and surfers.
Coastal cliff rescue.
Boater rescue up to 3 miles offshore.
Medical aid.
- All full-time lifeguards and many hourly lifeguards are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
- Hourly lifeguards are certified to a minimum of American Red Cross Emergency Response.
Swiftwater and inland river rescue.
- River Rescue Team members are certified at the instructor level.
Scuba rescue and underwater search and recovery.
- Dive Rescue Team members are certified as Advanced Scuba Divers and Dive Rescue Specialists.
Marine firefighting.
- Lifeguards from the Boating Safety Unit are fully equipped and trained to operate the Lifeguard Service's two fire boats and to suppress fires.
Law enforcement of beach regulations is done through citation, arrest and impounding of vessels.
- Most full-time lifeguards are classified as peace officers.
- All San Diego lifeguards are classified as public officers with the power of arrest.
Harbor patrol functions on Mission Bay and boating enforcement on the Pacific Ocean.
24-hour staffing of the Lifeguard Communications Center.
- Includes dispatching incoming 9-1-1 calls, marine radio distress calls, fire and police referrals, etc.
- Maintains observation of boating traffic traveling in and out of Mission Bay.
- California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS).